Maybe If, Maybe Then

MI 06 : Month Of Summer

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Ano ba dapat ang maramdaman kung ga-graduate ka na? Hindi ba dapat magtata-talon ka sa saya? That finally, your living hell experience in college is over. Well, for Jas, hindi naman masiyadong hell ang college kasi nga consistent naman siya sa studies niya.

Let's say masaya nga siya dahil ito na oh, graduate na siya.

"Congratulations, anak!" Her mother gave her a hundred kisses on the face and a tight hug.

Pati ang kaniya-kaniyang magulang ng mga kaibigan niya ay masayang binati ang kanilang mga anak. She smiled as everyone around her was filled with glee. Next stage na sila ng life.

But Jas really wanted Loloy to be there. Pero hindi pwede, eh. May class siya so hindi talaga. Matapos ang mga pagbati sa bawat estudyante ng kanilang pamilya, Jas, Abby, and their other friends went to gather for a while.

"Congrats, bitches! Finally!" Si Abby. Hindi niya talaga ma-explain kung gaano siya kasaya.

"Hey, babe, congrats." Si Brandon ng malapitan si Jas.

"Papalagpasin ko yang endearment mo sa 'kin, Brandon. But, anyway, congrats."

Everyone took a group photo and discussed some short after party plans before going apart for opening new doors in their life, probably won't be able to gather for a while because adult life is waiting for them.

"Beach na naman? Pumunta na tayo dun noong isang linggo, ah." Si Chez ng magsuggest si Grace na sa beach raw mag after party.

"Alam niyo, guys. Busy na schedule ko starting next week. Pwede bang bilisan niyo naman mag-decide?" Si Abby.

Everyone had a simple dinner with their family for their after party. Tapos ay nagchikahan at kulitan nalang. Halos napaiyak pa si Abby ng tumawag na nga ang mentor nila sa ballet at sinabing sa susunod na araw ay lalarga na sila papuntang Australia.

Kinabukasan sa after party, bumalik sila sa kaniya-kaniyang dorm at kinuha ang mga natitirang gamit. As for Jas, wala na naman talaga siyang naiwan, gusto lang niyang makita at magpaalam kay Loloy. Hindi na rin kasi siya sure kung magkikita pa nga ba sila ulit. She's gonna be busy, alright.

Ng huminto sa tapat ng dorm ni Loloy, she heaved a sigh first before buzzing. Ilang minuto pa bago ito bumukas.

"Yes?" A pretty girl appeared.

Lito ang mukha ni Jas. "Sino ka?"

Magsasalita na sana ang babae ng biglang nagpakita si Loloy sa likod nito. Nakaloose sweater, pajamas, at ang glasses niya. He looked at Jas.

"What are you doing here?" Tanong ni Loloy. Na parang wala siyang pake at hindi niya inasahan at ginustong pumunta si Jas. Ouch. Sobrang nasaktan dun si Jas, ah. Napaka-hater namam niya.

She tried to show a smile. "I'm here to bid goodbye. Uh.. I hope we'll meet again." She looked down on the ground. Seriously, iba na tama nito kay Loloy. Bilang lang ang linggo na magkakilala sila tapos ay ganito na siya? "I.. I'm going to miss you." She raised her head and forced a smile, looking him straight in the eyes. "Bye."

Naglakad na siya papalayo. Yun lang. Wala ng iba pa. Surely, she hoped he'll stop her and say he's going to miss her, too. Or say that he hopes they'll meet again. Pero wala. Nakalabas na siya ng building at walang Loloy na nakasunod sa likod niya. Ha. So much for hoping.

"Hey, something wrong?"

Heaving a smile, Jas smiled and gave Abby a hug. "Yep, all good." Ng kumalas ay namuo na ang luha sa mga mata ni Abby. "Oh? Ba't ka naman umiiyak diyan? Para ka namang hindi na babalik?"

Pinunasan na muna ni Abby ang mga luha niya. Inisip niyang baka ang pangit na niya kasi pa-iyak-iyak pa siya, marami pa namang tao sa airport.

"Don't be like that, Jas. You know that I don't know how long are we really staying there. Pabago-bago isipan ni mentor, eh." Still, Abby smiled. Napalingon silang dalawa ng hingal na tumatakbo ang iba nilang kaibigan papunta sa direksyon nila.

Napatawa nalang si Abby. "Oh, chill.lang kayo. Para namang hinahabol kayo ng kung anong malaking hayop."

Grace flipped her hair. "Duh, akala namin huli na kami."

"Don't worry, I still have twenty minutes. Bago lang rin umalis sila Mama. Jas stayed with me."

On the other hand, dinaluhan ni Brandon si Jas na siniko naman siya. Tumawa lang si Brandon pero naiirita na talaga si Jas. The people shared their talks before bidding their goodbyes to Abby who's now crying endlessly. Okay, it was an over reaction.

"You want to come with us to your Tita's house?" Tanong ng Mom ni Jas.

Inubos muna ni Jas ang  juice na iniinom bago nilingon ang Mom niya. Ang lalaki niyang kapatid ay nasa sala naglalaro ng lego.

"I'm not sure, Mom. I still have stuff to fix. 'Tsaka iyong mga documents ko kailangan ko pa din ayusin." She said with a smile.

Napangiti rin ang kaniyang ina at tumango nalang. Naghanda na sila at kalauna'y umalis na rin. Si Jas nalang ang natitira sa bahay. She groaned and went to sit on the couch. Tumunog ang phone niya sa bulsa at tinignan ito.

"Hello, hija! Papunta na ba kayo rito?" It was her Tita Desiree.

"Uh, Tita Des, si Mom lang at bunso ang pupunta diyan for now. I'm sorry, meron pa po kasi akong aasikasuhin." Sagot ni Jas.

"Oh, okay, I see. I understand. By the way, congratulations ulit, hija. Your Tita Charlie offered you, right? You should take it into consideration, hm?"

Well, Jas knows that, and she thinks about it, too. But now, mukhang may tama pa rin 'tong ulo niya at naguguluhan kung magsi-stay ba siya kasi nga baka daw magkita sila ulit ni Loloy.

"Yes, po. Thank you, Tita Des."

After doing her documents and other important files, she used her car to drive on the nearest, quiet highway surrounded with mountains. And below the ocean shimmered. Jas needed to breathe. To relax for a while.

"Graduate na ako. I have jobs I can possibly take thanks to my Titas. But after this, do all I do is work?"

Nope. Jas doesn't want to just work and work. She wants to see Loloy. 'Cause right now, she finally feels butterflies in her stomach. She finally gets to experience romance. So, she thought she would just grab this chance and if it doesn't work out, she'll force it to be.

"One month for summer. Ang haba naman ng panahon na hindi ko siya makikita. Teka... nagiging mainipin na talaga ako pagdating sa kanya, ah."